Animal trap



Sept. 7, 1948. c.. w. CRUMRINE ANIMAL TRAP 4 Sheets-Sheer,v l

Filed Aug. 10, 1945 INVENTOR. CHESTER W. CQUMQENE Sept. 7., 1.948. c. w. cRUMRlNE AN I MAL TRAP 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 19113 Y INVENToR. CHESTER W. CnuMmNE w,ia,acyyua Sept 7, 1948. c. w. cRUMRlNE 2,448,780

ANIMAL TRAP Filed Aug. 10, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR.

. CHESTER W CnuMmNE Sept. 7, 1948. c. w. CRUMRINE 1 2,448,730

` ANIMAL TRAP Filed Aug. io, 194:5 4 sheets-sheet 4 WWW INVENTOR. CHESTER W. CRuMmN'E V orngys.

Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'A ANIMAL TRAP Chester W. Crumrine, Irondequot Township,

Monroe County, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to L F C Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 10, 1943, Serial No. 498,077

13 Claims. (Cl. 43-99) particular arrangement of parts the animal is conned quickly and certainly to a predetermined zone from which his body is removed and disposed of in a relatively slower manner whereby the remainder of the trapping cycle may yproceed silently and in a manner calculated not to arouse the suspicion of other animals in the vicinity of the trap.

A consideration of the illustrative form of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in the ensuing specification will make clear to those skilled in the art other and further advantages of the trap which forms the subject of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly vin cross-section, of one form of the trap of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with portions of the trap casing broken away and other parts in cross section for added clearness;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmenary cross-sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2: and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram illustrating schematically the manner in which the electrical connections rnay be made.

Throughout the several iigures of the drawings. like characters of reference denote like parts and the numeral I0 designates generally a casing having opposed side walls II and I2, end walls I3 and I4, and a top closure I5. Adjacent to b'ut spaced slightly inwardly from each of4 the end walls I3 and I4 are transverse partition walls I6 and Il. The end walls I3 and I4 each stop short of the bottom of the casing I0 to provide an unobstructed longitudinal passage I8. The opposite ends of the passage I8 are adapted to be closed oil, upon springing of the trap, by a pair of doors I3 and 20 disposed between the end walls I3 and I4 and the partition walls I6 and I1, respectively.

A horizontal panel 2l extends across the interior of the casing Il) and between the side walls Il and I2 and between the partition walls I6 and lI'l. This provides an upper compartment, sepa-tv rate from the trapping chamber, for housing various of the electrical units. The doors I9 andv are normally retained in raised, open position by a pair of hooks 22 and 23 which dependfrom, 'a pivot rod 24 which is pivotally secured to the. panel 2l, see Fig. 3, the hooks 22 and 23 engaging respectively beneath pins 25 and 26 which are carried by the doors I8 and `2l) and project through slots 21 and 28 formed in the partition` l'walls I6 and Il. The pivot rod 24 is formed withan offset crank portion 29, Figs. 1 `and ,3, whichis engaged by link which is connected to the A armature 3| of an electromagnet 32. Energiza-p l.tion of the latter rotates the pivot rod 24 to with. draw the hooks 22 and y23 from beneath the pinsjy 25 and 26 and free the doors I3 and 20 to drop quickly to closed position.

The manner in which electrical actuationisiv accomplished will be more fully described hereinafter. For the present it will be sui'licient-to say that a light source 33 located atone side of the casing Ill directs light to a mirror 34 which projects a beam to a photoelectric cell 35. If de-`- vasired, an' infra-red filter 36 may be interposedas shown in Fig. 1 and a lens 31 is preferable to converge the beam to the light-sensitive element of the photo-cell. Interruption of the light beam by:

the presence of an animal thereacross energizes Ltheelectro-magnet 32.

A pair of sweeps 38 and 39 are pivotally sus connected to sweep 38 as at 58 and to the ,door

`as at 59. Link 44 is pivotally connected to sweep' 39 as at 64 and to the door as at 69. Dropping ci the doors pivots the sweeps to the dash-line position of Fig. 4 whereby the lowerboundary'of the area in which the animal is initially confined,

viewedas in Figs. 1 and 4, is approximately arcuate in contour.

As the doors I9 and 20 drop they release a lever 45 which permits closure of a normally open spring actuated switch 46 which controls the.

energizing circuit 4'! of an electric motor 48, see Figs. 1 and 5. ticularly to Fig. 5, an electrocuting transformer 49 is connected across the power supply in a man# ner which will presently appear. 'f

The motor 48. which begins running as soon as Incidentally, and referring par:-`

the trap is sprung and the doors drop, is provided with a conventional reduction gear unit Sil which in turn rotates a vertically disposed shaft 5I which carries a worm 52 at its lower end, the latter meshing with a worm wheel 53. The worm wheel 53 is mounted on a shaft 5d which is journaled in the end walls I3 and I4 and in the partition walls I6 and I l, as appears best in Fig. 3. The doors I9 and 20 are slotted as at 55 and 5E, respectively, to avoid interference with the shaft 54 and bushings 40, later described.

A series of parallel bars or tines project from the shaft 54, to the right as Viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, to form a grill or sweep 5l. The shaft 54 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 and accordingly the sweep 5l traverses the more or less arcuate area to which the trapped' animal is confined by the sweeps 38 and 3S. The animal is thus moved upwardly out of the passage i8 at the left side thereof and its body encounters a curved`l grid; 60' which is composed of a series of parallel prongs or tines extending from a pivotally. mounted shaft 5i. The shaft 6I has an insulated` mounting as by forming the partition rrreinbersA I"6` and I'I, in which shaft 6I is journaled, of'wood or other insulating material and the grid Gllcompri'ses one termi-nal of the secondary coil 63 of the' electrocuting transformer i9 of Fig. 5, thev other terminal thereofbeing the sweep 51. An oblique longitudinal panel 52 extends between the partition members I6 and I'I and is 'xed thereto. Panel 62 limits counterclockwise pivotal movementv of grid @Il and forms an upward extensi'orroftle` inciosure formed by the sweeps 38 and 39'wh`en they are in the dash line position o-fFi'g. 4, Sha-ft 54`- has insulated mounting bushings 40 and a 'brush contact I3 may be secured against partition member I6 for electrical engagement with shiaft-5'4f`a-sshown1infFigs. 3 and 4. A conductor 95'l`ea'ds1to'one terminal of the secondary coil 63. Another conductor 95, see Fig. 2', leads from shaft 6I? tothe other'terminal of secondary coil 63 and conductor 9'6` may be iiexible to permit` oscillation of' shaft 65|?.

Tlie'tinesof the sweep-5l andk those ofthe grid Illy are staggeredso. that, as the grid GO'i's pivotally liftedfby pressureofan animal body thereagai'nst, theitiriesofthe-sweep 51 are free to rotate past thegri'd 6U andthe then dead animal is deposited upon a stripping grid 65 which comprises a series of`parall`ell prongs or tines extending from a ledge lse'curedto-side wall I2. As appears from Fig'. 2, ther tines'vof the stripping grid.v G5 are staggered with respect to the tines of the sweep 5l andthe endslofth'e-former are so curved, see Fig. 1, that thef animal is moved upwardly and along the top ofthe: stripping grid? 65 by the sweep 5l, which latter continues` to". rotate to starting position. An opening- B'I' is formed in they side wall I2 wherebyanimal bodies may be pushed out of the trap* when the surface of the stripping grid 65 no*4 Tonger accommodates the number of dead' animails; present thereon.

cam 68*i`s xed tothe shaft 5d of the rotating sweep-A 5T and when the door Ztl drops to closed -position the pin 26 fixed thereto drops into` engagement with the low point It of the cam 68, the latter being rotatable in' a clockwise direction asf-viewed in Figi 1 and so proportioned that the first yhalf revolution thereof does not affect the pinf 26 or'- the door' 20. Subsequently, however, and during the last half revolutionl of the sweep 51S, the door 2l) is raised by portion 'I8 of the cam 68.

Infaddition to the lines comprising the sweep 4 51, the shaft 54 is provided with an extra prong Ill which extends the same as the others but is disposed adjacent the partition I5. To avoid confusion this extra prong is shown only in Fig. 3. As the shaft 54 approaches the end of a complete rotation. but while the cam 68 is still supporting pin 26 of door 2%, the prong 'It passes overa roundended spring projected button 'lI of a normally closed microswitch 'I2 of well-known form disposed against the partition I S to depress the button@ and momentarily open the micro-switch. The switch 12, again to avoid confusion, is shown only in Iilg;A 1 and in the wiring diagram, Fig. 5. The momentary opening of switch 'I2 de-energizes electro-magnet 32 permitting the hooks 22 and 23 to resume latching position with respect to pins 25 and' 2li, respectively, and also de-energizing the electrocuti-ng transformer 49 in a manner which will' presently be described. At the same time, the lever l5 is engaged by the upper part of door I9' during the iinal upward movement of door I9 and the-motor circuit d'1 and iii is opened by opening of switch 45.

The inertiaV of the motor 48, the cam 68, and the drive means therebetween is sulcient to' permit 'thecarn to continue to rotate to substantially the position`v illustrated in' Fig. 1, so as to be automatically disposed for a subsequent trapping, electrocuti'ng', disposing and resetting operation.

It will benoted that only the pin 26 of door 20 is engaged by cam 63. To cause the door I9 to be raised synchronously with door 20 a bail 'I5 is pivoteds against side wall IfI, see Figa l and 2. The bail 'I5 has a `pair of arms 'I6 and 'I'I extending radially therefrom, the former engaging beneath pin iiii'and' the latter extending directly over pin'- 26. The-arm 'I'Tth'us is rocked byupward movement of door 2l) and pin 2li, which causes armx I'I to rock: and raise pin'- 25 and door I9 simultaneouslywitlli the raising ofvv door 2D by cam 68.

Thel complete trapping', electrocuting', disposingA and resetting cycle' is calculated to consume about a minute and ai half so that the animal is in contact with the electrocuting electrodes for about half a minute.

Referring now to Fig'. 5 and a description of the "electrical operation and' control of the trap', the numerals 8l) and SI designate the opposed conducto-rs of.' a conventional 110'volt A. C. power supply. It wili'loev` noted' that' the motor Q8 has permanent connection' to conductor 8o'. Switch* 46 is connected 'in series between the` motor. and conductor 8|.

`The photoelectri'c cell 35 is associated in conventional manner with' amplifying means which maybe" in. the form of'aThyr'atron tube No. 2050 or 2051', tlietu'bev being provided with av suitable adjustment potentiometer, designated 84 in the drawing. The amplifying` tube is designated 85 insFig. 5; In' thew representation of Thyratron 85 theencrcled numerals indicate the terminals of the' Thyratron elementsas follows: 2V and B the cath'oderheater, 3 the plate, 5^th`e grid and 6 the cathode;l Theoutput conductor oi the amplifying tube: isdesignated 86' and when light fails to travelfrom lampy itophotoelectric cell 35 current ows inv conductor 8B which completes its circuit at conductor 8i!-y andA includes a relay B'I which controls a two-way switch 88;

When. relay lil is. cle-energized, as shown in Fig'. 5; and when the'trap is set to'effect a trap` ping operation; switch 83' closes a circuit across the conductors and 8"! to` energize a transformer' 89"' which energizesy lamp 33. Whenv an animalbreaksth'elight b'ea'm' from lamp 33' to photoelectric cell 35, conductor 86 is energized and relay 81 moves switch 88 to open the lamp transformer circuit and a circuit is established, bymeans of Vconductors 90, 9| and 52, for energizing the door latch releasing solenoid 32. This movement of switch 88 also closes the electrocuting transformer circuit by Way of conductors 90, 9|, and |00.

It will be noted that when the relay 81 is initially energized,fthe lamp transformer is automatically de-ene'rgized and remains so while the relay is energized through the output conductor 86 of the amplifying tube 85. As the end of a trapping cycle is approached, however, the prong momentarily opens normally closed switch 12 by passage across the spring projected button 1| thereof. This de-energizes relay 81, whereupon switch 88, which is biased to the position illustrated in Fig. 5'by gravity or in any other way, returns to .lamp-energizing position, de-energizing electromagnet 32 and electrocuting transformer 49, and the trap is entirely reset.

The manner in whichthe photoelectric cell and its amplifier 85 operate is understood by those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail. `The adjustment potentiometer is provided f-or adjusting the sensitivity of operation to suit Varying conditions, especially as concerns thepresence of greater or lesser amounts of extraneous light. While a single complete specific embodiment has been described herein by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, or otherwise than as defined in the appended claims.

A trapping cycle will now be described. When an animal breaks the light beam to photo-electric cell35 it causes energization of electromagnet 32 and electrocuting transformer 49 in a manner previously described and movement of the armature 3l of electromagnet 32 thereby releases hooks 22 and 23 from beneath the pins 25 and 26 of doors I9 and 25J.V The doors thus drop and, by means of` links 43 and 44, simultaneously move sweeps 38 and 39 to the dash line position of Fig. 4.

Simultaneously, movement of door I9 downward releases lever 45 which permits normally open switch 46 to close and thus close the energizing circuit of m-otor 48. Shaft 54 thus is rotated in a clockwise direction and the sweep 51 carried by shaft 54 moves to traverse the space defined by the sweeps 38 and 35 in their dash line position of Fig. 4 and the animal is electrocuted by the opposed electrodes comprising sweep 51 and grid 60. The grid 60 is moved upwardly by engagement ofthe animal body thereagainst as the animal is moved up-wardly by sweep 51 and the animal body is ultimately stripped radially outwardly fromsweep 51 through the cooperation of the curved stripping grid 65.

During the last half rotation of grid 51 and cam 6B, which rotates therewith, the cam operates against pin 2B to raise the doors to the position of Fig. l. When the doors are raised lever 45 is engaged by door I8 and the .motor circuit is broken. The motor has sucient inertia to permit continued rotation of cam 68 to the position of Fig. 1.

The manner in which micro-switch 12 cooperates to reestablish lamp energization and .deenergization of electromagnet 32 and transformer 49 toward the end of a trapping cycle has previously been described. This permits hooks 22 and 23 to reengage pins 25 and 26 and retain the doors in elevated position. i

I claim:

1. An animal trap comprising a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending therethrough and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in elevagad position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining means, depending pivoted sweeps extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said .passage and means connecting said sweeps to said closure means whereby dropping of the latter is accompanied by movement of the sweeps toward each other to constrict the transverse area of said passage, and means movable to traverse the constricted passage and move an animal body therefrom to said disposal zone.

2. An animal trap comprising a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extend-ing therethrough and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in elevated position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining means, depending pivoted sweeps extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said passage and means connecting said sweeps to said closure means whereby dropping of the latter is accompanied by movement of the sweeps toward each other to constrict the transverse area of said passage to substantially arcuate form, and means rotatable to traverse the constricted passage and move an animal body therefrom to said disposal zone.

3. An animal trap comprising a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending therethrough and an adjacent disposal Zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in elevated position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining meanadepending pivoted sweeps extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said passage and means connecting said sweeps to said closure means whereby dropping of the latter is accompanied by movement of the sweeps toward each other to constrict the transverse area of said passage so that it has an approximately arcuate lower boundary, and means rotatably mounted adjacent the upper portion of said passage to completely traverse the constricted passage by rotation therethrough and move an animal body therefrom to said disposal zone above said passage.

4. An animal trap comprising a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending therethrough and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in elevated position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining means, depending pivoted sweeps extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said passage and means connecting said sweeps to said closure means whereby dropping of the latter is accompanied by movement of the sweeps toward each other to constrlct the transverse area of said passage, means rotatably mounted adjacent the upper portion of said passage to traverse the constricted passage and move an animal body upwardly therefrom, means in said casing above said passage and cooperating with said rotatably mounted means to provide electrocuting means, and other means in said casing above said passage for diverting animal bodies from said rotatably mounted means, said last two mentioned means being in the path of rotation of said rotatable means whereby an animal raised; thereto is successivly electr'oouted anddivertedto said disposal Zone.

5. An animal trap comprising aA casing having anunobstructed animal passageextending therethrough and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage andmeans releasably retaining said closure means in elevated positionv whereby said closuremeans are adapted to drop to closed position upon release ofsaid retaining means, depending pivoted sweeps extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said passage and means connecting said sweeps to said closure means whereby dropping of the latter is accompanied by movement ofthe sweeps toward each other to constrict the transverse area of said passage, means rotatably mounted adjacent the upper portion of said passage to traverse the constricted passage and move an animal body upwardly therefrom, means in said casing above said passage and cooperating with said rotatably mounted means to provide electrocuting" means, other means in said casing' above said passage for diverting animal bodies from said rotatably mounted means,- said last two lmentioned means being in the path of rotation of said rotatable means whereby an animal raised thereto is successively electrocuted and diverted to said disposal Zone, and actuating means responsive to the presence of an animal in said passage for automatically effecting a single complete rotation of said rotatably mounted means.

6. An animal tr-ap compri-sing a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending therethrough and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends ofsaid passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in elevated position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining means, depending pivoted sweeps extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said said passage and means connecting said sweeps to said closure means whereby dropping of the latter is accompanied by movement of the sweeps toward each other to cons'trict the transverse area of said passage, means rotatably mounted adjacent the upper portion of said passage to traverse the constricted passage and move an animal body upwardly therefrom and continuously to said disposal Zone, and means in said casing above said passage and inA the path of rotationy of said rotatably mounted means and cooperating with said rotatably mounted means to provide eleotrocutng means whereby an animal raised thereto is elec'trocu-ted before reaching the disposal zone.

7. An animal trap comprising. a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending therethrough and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in elevated position wherebysaid closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release ot said retaining means, depending plvoted sweeps extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said passage andmeans connectingsaid sweeps to said closure means whereby dropping of the latter is accompani-ed by movement of the sweeps toward each other to constrict the transverse area of said passage, means rotatably mounted adjacent the upper portionof said passage to traverse the oonstricted passage and move an anim'allbody upwardly therefroml and continuously to said disposal zone,v means in said casing above said passage and in the pat-h of rotationy of said rotatably mounted means and cooperating with said rotatably mounted means to provide electrod outingv means whereby an animal raised theretor is ele'ctrocuted before reaching the disposal zone,

and actuating means responsive to the presenceA of an animal in said passage for automaticallyeffecting a single complete rotation of said-.rdl tatably mounted means.

8. An animal trap comprising a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending therethrough and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in ele# vated position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining means, means rotatably mounted ladjacent the upper portion of said passage to traverse the passage and move an animal body upwardly therefrom, means in said casing above said passage and cooperating with said rotatably mounted means to provide electrocuting' means', and other means in said casing above said pas"- sage for diverting animal bodies from said rtatably mounted means, said last two mentionedl meansvbeing in the path of rotation of said rotatably mounted means whereby an animal raisedl thereto is successively electrocuted and divertedto" said disposal zone.

9. An animal trap comprising a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending'there-4 through and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said Vclosure means in elevated position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining means, means rotatably mount-- ed adjacent the upper portion of said passage to traverse the passage and move an animaly body upwardly therefrom, means in said casingabove said passage and cooperating with said rotatably mounted means to provide electrocuting means,

other means in said casing above said passage' for diverting animal bodies from saidrota'talllyv mounted means, said last two mentioned means being in the path of rotation of said rotatable means whereby an animal raised thereto is siiccessively electrocuted and diverted to said dis"- po'sal zone, and actuating means responsive' to the presence of an animal in said passagefor automatically effecting a single complete rotation ofsaid rotatably mounted means.

10. An animal trap comprising a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending therethrough and an adjacent disposel zone, closure' means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in elvated position whereby said closure means are* adapted to drop to close-d position upon release of said retaining means, means rotatably mourit ed adjacent the upper portion of said passage to traverse the passage and move an animal body upwardly therefrom and continuously to said dis posa] Zone, and means in said casing above sai-d passage and in the path of rotation of said rotatably mounted means and coopera-ting with' said rotatably mounted means to providev elec'- trocuting means whereby an animal raised there# to is electrocuted before reaching the disposal zone.

11. An animal trap comprising a casing Having an unobstructed animal passage extending there'- through and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage andmeans releasably retaining said closure' means in elek vated position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining means, means rotatably mounted adjacent the upper portion of said passage to traverse the passage and move an animal body upwardly therefrom and continuously to said disposal zone, means in said casing above said passage and in the path of rotation of said rotatably mounted means and cooperating with said rotatably mounted means to provide electrocuting means whereby an animal raised thereto is electrocuted before reaching the disposal zone, and actuating means responsive to the presence of an animal in said passage for automatically effecting a single complete rotation of said rotatably mounted means.

12. An animal trap comprising a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending therethrough and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in elevated position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining means, means movable to traverse the passage and move an animal body upwardly therefrom to said disposal zone, and means in said casing above said passage in the path of said movable means and cooperating with said movable means to provide electrocuting means whereby an animal raised thereto is electrocuted before reaching the disposal zone.

13. An animal trap comprising a casing having an unobstructed animal passage extending therethrough and an adjacent disposal zone, closure means at opposite ends of said passage and means releasably retaining said closure means in elevated position whereby said closure means are adapted to drop to closed position upon release of said retaining means, means movable to traverse the passage and move an animal body upwardly therefrom to said disposal zone, means in said casing above said passage in the path of said movable means and cooperating with said movable means to provide electrocuting means whereby an animal raised thereto is electrocuted before reaching the disposal zone, and actuating means responsive to closing movement of said closure means for automatically and oontinuously moving said movable means through said passage, past said cooperating electrocuting means and past said disposal Zone to initial preset position.

CHESTER W. CRUMRINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Crumrine Oct. 17. 1944 

